How to Make DIY designer flower arrangements

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Choose your flowers and greenery!  You’ll want one piece of greenery to set up your vase, about 4 flowers to fill your vase, and then one filler green or small flower like a wax flower.

Tape your vase in a tic tac toe pattern using clear oasis waterproof tape.  Taping your vase will ensure that your flowers stay where you want them in your arrangement.  Alternatively, you can use floral foam that you will soak with water.  We like using a vase that is opaque so you cannot see the stems.  If your vase is clear use these fun greenery ribbons (you can select green leaf ribbon, bark ribbon, or birch ribbon).

Fill your watering can with plant food and water.  Mix the water and plant food well and carefully add it to your vase.  Those little packets that come with your flowers really do help to preserve the life of your flowers!  You can also find the plant food that we use at Alice’s Table here.  We always fill our vase first and then add the flowers.  The reason it’s important to do this is because flowers form a scab if they’re exposed outside of the water for too long.  This scab will make it difficult for flowers to drink all the water that they will need.

Green your vase with a green filler of your choice.  Our favorite green to be used as a filler is Ruscus that is not only beautiful but lasts a long time!  Cut one Ruscus stem at a 45 degree angle into two pieces and place the stems in the vase.  Make sure that you strip your leaves off of the stem on the lower portion that goes into the water.  Leaves that go into the water will form bacteria.

Your foundation is set, and you’re ready to move to your flowers!

Cut your hydrangeas at a 45 degree angle about 1.5 times the height of the vase.  Make another cut up (crack the stem) the hydrangea stem so that it has more surface area to drink (hydrangeas drink a lot).  Spray your hydrangea petals one to two times a day since they also drink from their petals.

Add stunning roses that are also cut at a 45 degree angle.  Make sure to strip all your leaves and thorns off of the roses.  Find our handy rose stripper here and clippers here.  The outside guard petals can be removed from the rose if they’re not healthy or attractive.  We added five roses to this arrangement.

Now on to our three white tulips– perfect for spring!  Cut your tulips a little bit shorter than you normally would since they’re one of the few flowers that will grow after you cut them.

Our last finishing touch is adding fresh rosemary.  Not only does rosemary smell amazing but it’s also such a nice green addition to arrangements.  Voila– our arrangement is picture perfect!

If you love flowers as much as I do and would like a more in depth hands-on instruction, I’d love to have you in one of my classes!  If you don’t live locally, check out Alice’s Table to see if there is a class near you.  The class will provide outstanding flowers handpicked from a reputable wholesaler, find a stylish vase, and provide instruction from a flower professional.  We love seeing how everyone lights up around lots of beautiful flowers.  You’ll find that flower arranging with scrumptious food makes the perfect girls’ night out.

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If you have attended a class and just cannot get enough of the Alice Table fun, contact me about being an Alice’s Table Exec!  We are will be adding creative and outgoing women to our team and would love to have you.